JUNE 7, 2014 - COLUMBUS
When Ben Miller crossed the finish line in the 110 meter hurdles at the D-III State Track & Field Championships on Saturday, he put himself in very select company by becoming the first Buccaneer athlete since Ryan Stover in 1989 to earn state placement medals in two different sports in the same year.
As a senior in the fall of 1988, Stover placed third in the state cross country meet and then took second in the 3200 meter run at the state track meet in the spring of 1989.
Miller's accomplishment is arguably much more difficult considering he earned his state medals in two entirely different sports - wrestling and track.
Just three months ago, Miller placed sixth at state in the 170 pound weight class just across the street at the Schottenstein Center.
This Saturday, Miller took seventh in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.13 and then returned to the track a short while later to take eighth in the 300 meter hurdles in a time of 40.41.
Still, Miller, who probably didn't know he put himself in select company, wasn't completely satisfied with his performance.
That's because he had targeted breaking the school 110 meter hurdles record held by close friend, Troy Cron, who is now serving in the United States Navy on the other side of the world.
"I would have like to run better," Miller said. "But, it was nice to get on the podium twice."
Fortunately Miller is a junior and has another year left to chase Cron's record and perhaps find a spot higher on the podium.
"I still have another year to get Troy's (Cron) record in the 110s," he explained. "I would probably have to go on a diet and lose some weight to get the record in the 300s."
Records aside, Ben Miller had a historic weekend for an athlete who probably wasn't aware of the magnitude of his accomplishment.
Which makes for some serious anticipation for what he has in store for Covington athletic history in his senior year. |